Colas Rail visited the former LSWR route todayDavid Tozer66848 worked the 05.48 0Q01 Eastleigh to Eastleigh via Salisbury, Westbury, Castle Cary, Yeovil Pen Mill, Yeovil Junction, Exeter Central and Exeter St David's and then returning back the same route. The loco had a strange device attached to one end.

160601p 66848 seen at Pinhoe Station at 09.21 this morning. Copyright David Tozer 1.6.2016

160601q 66848 seen at 09.58 this morning passing Cranbrook Station. Copyright David Tozer

Thanks David

The Last Year of the Dawlish Warren Camping CoachesRoger WinnenThis will be the last year of the Camping Coaches being occupied at The Brunel Camping Coach Park, Dawlish Warren.By kind permission I was able to view this park on Thursday 26th May, 2016. This site was once used by Railway Employees from the 1930s to enjoy the non luxury camping coach experience afforded in these redundant coach conversions undertaken by the then railway operating companies. Maintenance was carried out by apprentices learning their trade and skills. The present restaurant car conversions were placed on site in 1981/1982 and named after Cities which The Great Western Railway served. Once privatisation took hold these resources soon diminished and it was left to the faithful volunteers to repair and replace when necessary. Over the years corrosion to the underframes and bodywork by the weather and the nearness of the sea have proved that its now uneconomic to repair these vehicles any more.Full appreciation must go to the volunteers to keep this non profit undertaking going for such a long time.

List of Vehicles at Dawlish WarrenNearest the Main Line45046 Plymouth A 31 ton Inspection Saloon built Wolverton 1941 a further 7 of these vehicles survive into preservation.

1931 Gloucester. An unclassed restaurant car built Swindon/Ashford December 1960 later converted into a restaurant/buffet, preserved with EMU Mk 4 Bogies. Converted into a camping coach in 1981.

1015 Swindon. Built Wolverton July 1960 second class restaurant. Built with fixed seating. Rebogied with B4s and later BR Mk 1 bogies. Converted into a camping coach 1981.

1930 Exeter. Built Swindon/Ashford December 1960 unclassed restaurant later converted into an unclassed restaurant buffet preserved, with EMU Mk 4 bogies. Used as a disabled eight berth coach. Converted 1981

The next row across1927 London. An unclassed restaurant. Built Swindon/Ashford December 1960 later converted into an unclassed restaurant/buffet, preserved with EMU Mk 4 bogies. Converted into a camping coach 1981.

1991 Bristol. An unclassed restaurant. Built Swindon/Ashford June 1961. Was used as part of the XP64 train and has been restored with EMU Mk 4 bogies. Fitted with loose seating. Conversion into a camping coach 1982.

1951 Newport. An unclassed restaurant. Built Swindon/Ashford September 1960 later converted into an unclassed restaurant/buffet, preserved with EMU Mk 4 bogies. Conversion into a camping coach 1981

1934 Swansea. An unclassed restaurant built Swindon/Ashford December 1960 later converted into a unclassed restaurant/buffet, preserved with EMU Mk 4 bogies. Converted into a camping coach 1982.N.B. Swindon was responsible for the underframes where Ashford constructed the bodywork.

Tamar emerging from Whiteball tunnel having crossed as it passed through the tunnel the boundary between Somerset and Devon. The next country boundary the main lines crosses is over the river Tamar. which forms the boundary between Devon and Cornwall. Note the white backing painted on the tunnel entrance to give better sighting of the signal. Copyright John Cornelius